Advice of the day – Ecclesiastes 11

  1. Be generous: Invest in acts of charity.
    Charity yields high returns.
  2. Don’t hoard your goods; spread them around.
    Be a blessing to others.
    This could be your last night.
  3. When the clouds are full of water, it rains.
    When the wind blows down a tree, it lies where it falls.
  4. Don’t sit there watching the wind.
    Do your own work.
    Don’t stare at the clouds.
    Get on with your life.
    He who observes the wind
    [and waits for all conditions to be favorable]
    will not sow,
    and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
  5. Just as you’ll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman,
    So you’ll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does.
  6. Go to work in the morning and
    stick to it until evening without watching the clock.
    You never know from moment to moment how your work will turn out in the end.

    Before the Years Take Their Toll

  7. Oh, how sweet the light of day,
    And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
  8. Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted.
    Take delight in each light-filled hour,
    Remembering that there will also be many dark days
    And that most of what comes your way is smoke.
  9. You who are young, make the most of your youth.
    Relish your youthful vigor.
    Follow the impulses of your heart.
    If something looks good to you, pursue it.
    But know also that not just anything goes;
    You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.
  10. Live footloose and fancy-free —
    You won’t be young forever.
    Youth lasts about as long as smoke.
Ecclesiastes 11

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Ecclesiast 10 – very interesting and practical indeed

I am busy lately, and yes I do not manage my time so that I would have time to write here on my blog. The blog moved down on my important things to do, so I do not get to write in here. Today I have been reading Ecclesiast 10. It is almost like a chapter form the Proverbs. It’s a very practical chapter:

1 Dead flies in perfume make it stink, And a little foolishness decomposes much wisdom.

2 Wise thinking leads to right living; Stupid thinking leads to wrong living.

3 Fools on the road have no sense of direction. The way they walk tells the story: “There goes the fool again!”

4 If a ruler loses his temper against you, don’t panic; A calm disposition quiets intemperate rage.

5-7 Here’s a piece of bad business I’ve seen on this earth, An error that can be blamed on whoever is in charge:

  • Immaturity is given a place of prominence,
  • While maturity is made to take a backseat.
  • I’ve seen unproven upstarts riding in style,
  • While experienced veterans are put out to pasture.

8 Caution: The trap you set might catch you.
Warning: Your accomplice in crime might double-cross you.

9 Safety first: Quarrying stones is dangerous.
Be alert: Felling trees is hazardous.
OR: Whoever removes [landmark] stones or hews out [new ones with similar intent] will be hurt with them, and he who fells trees will be endangered by them.

10 Remember: The duller the ax the harder the work;
Use your head: The more brains, the less muscle.

11 If the snake bites before it’s been charmed, what’s the point in then sending for the charmer?

12-13 The words of a wise person are gracious. The talk of a fool self-destructs — he starts out talking nonsense and ends up spouting insanity and evil.

14 Fools talk way too much, chattering stuff they know nothing about.

15 A decent day’s work so fatigues fools that they can’t find their way back to town.

16-17 Unlucky the land whose king is a young pup, and whose princes party all night.
Lucky the land whose king is mature, where the princes behave themselves and don’t drink themselves silly.

18 A shiftless man lives in a tumbledown shack;
A lazy woman ends up with a leaky roof.

19 Laughter and bread go together,
And wine gives sparkle to life—
But it’s money that makes the world go around.

20 Don’t bad-mouth your leaders, not even under your breath,
And don’t abuse your betters, even in the privacy of your home.
Loose talk has a way of getting picked up and spread around.
Little birds drop the crumbs of your gossip far and wide.

Ecclesiast 10

If you like Romanian, here is my key points from what I understood and took for me:

  • Dacă eÅŸti înÅ£elept ai grija să fii astfel tot timpul, căci toÅ£i au aÅŸteptări de la tine, iar cum greÅŸeÅŸti ceva toÅ£i observa. AÅŸa că nu căuta să fii ÅŸtiut drept înÅ£elept sau că ÅŸtii prea multe, ci fii smerit ÅŸi trăieÅŸte-Å£i viaÅ£a
  • Ai grijă ce ÅŸi cum gândeÅŸti, căci la fel vei ÅŸi trăi
  • Când te atacă cineva, indiferent cum, are sau nu dreptate, tu rămâi calm, căci astfel ai ÅŸanse mai mari să ieÅŸi din situaÅ£ie bine
  • Când vei ajunge să fii la conducere, ai grijă pe cine pui în frunte:
    • Nu pe cel imatur ci pe cel încercat
    • Nu pe cel neîncercat ci pe un veteran
  • Nu gândi ÅŸi nu plănui rău spre aproapele tău… nu doar că poÅ£i cadea tu în locul lui, dar nu e corect în faÅ£a Domnului
  • Ai grija la cel ce e în tabăra ta, ca să nu treacă de partea duÅŸmanului
  • Nu schimba hotărârile făcute, căci rău mia poÅ£i ajunge
  • Cu cât îţi foloseÅŸti mai bine ÅŸi mai degrab înÅ£elepciunea, cu atât va trebui să munceÅŸti mai mult
  • Nu sta la vorba cu cel necugetat, căci va ajunge să te blesteme la sfârÅŸit… timpul e limitat, aÅŸa că foloseÅŸte-l cât mai bine
  • Oriunde ai lucra ÅŸi pentru cine, caută să fie oameni cu experienţă ÅŸi încercaÅ£i
  • Nu vorbi de rău pe nimeni, nici măcar în gândul tău să nu existe aÅŸa ceva. Nu că te-ar putea auzi cel pe care îl vorbeÅŸti de rău, ci nu e bine înaintea Domnului, e păcat!

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The History of Blessing – new book graphic design

The History of Blessing - new book graphic design - cover graphic design of book
For some time now, I started a new project. I have to

  • create the general layout and feel of the book,
  • choose the fonts to match the feel of the entire book,
  • design the graphics,
  • arrange the text and everything else that a book involves except:
    • to create the text (of coarse I am not the author… DănuÅ£ Mănăstireanu is the author)
    • to print the book; I do not know where it will be printed and when.

The name of this Christian book/manual, that I have to design, is The History of Blessing (Istoria Binecuvântării) by Dănuţ Mănăstireanu.

Because I was so busy with my MBA and my daily job, I had no time for this book. But now the MBA is finished and until I start the doctorate it wakes some time. So, this is the perfect thing to do in my free time.

The History of Blessing - new book graphic design - interior graphic design of book

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Trust in the Lord

It’s been quite some time since I haven’t wrote anything on my blog. Indeed I’ve been busy, but this is not an excuse for you. As you already know I finished my MBA with God’s help. Now, I am supposed to have more free time, but this isn’t necessary so.

This morning God toughed me a few lessons and encouraged me. In the same time told me to share it with you.

I am in tricky situation now. I mean that I am thinking about my future, about where and what I shall be doing in 1 year, or 2 years time. There could be so many possibilities. In the same time, I tend to worry regarding the financial domain of my life. I was thinking about putting something in a safe place, so I would be able to have all I need at certain time.

In all this situation I was told that…

Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.

It happened to me before to worry about those things. But, to tell you the truth I am really blessed with my current situation. There are so many people what do not have what to eat, and have no roof over their head. Yes, it is also true that I do not have my roof over my head, but I have to stay with rent in someone else’s apartment.

Take a look the the next story:

13Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.”
14He replied, “Mister, what makes you think it’s any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?”
15Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”
16-19Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’
20“Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’
21“That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”

22-24He continued this subject with his disciples. “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.25-28“Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

29-32“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

33-34“Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

Luke 12:13-34

I see that I have to trust more in the Lord.

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How To Stay Strong

The Bible is full of advices and hints of how to have a good life. Indeed what matters most is what comes after this life. Nevertheless, God is interested of how we fell about living this life.

This morning God talked to me by Psalm 125:

Those who trust in God are like Zion Mountain: Nothing can move it, a rock-solid mountain you can always depend on. Mountains encircle Jerusalem, and God encircles his people – always has and always will.

The fist of the wicked will never violate.

What is due the righteous, provoking wrongful violence.

Be good to your good people, God, to those whose hearts are right!

God will round up the backsliders, corral them with the incorrigibles.

Peace over Israel!

What I understand is that:

  • if I trust in the Lord
    • I shall not totter
    • I shall be strengthen for ever
  • God encircles me, and nothing really bad would happen to me
  • the Evil will not harm me for ever and soon I shall be delivered
  • be good and with a good hart and God will repay me
  • pray for the peace of Israel

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Weekend fun trip to Radauti

dsc08807.jpg

This weekend I was invited to go to Radauti, in Suceava district. It was an opportunity to meet new people. In the same time I managed to fill my fun-bag with memories. Andrei, Denisa’s brother, invited me on Wednesday to take part of their trip to Radauti. On Sunday, there were to be the baptism of 30 new Christians in a nearby river.

We left on Saturday from Iasi. We spend the night at Daniel’s family (not me… another Daniel, he’s from Radauti). On Sunday morning we attend church. At 2 pm, everyone gathered at the local river for the baptism. People asked me to do a lot of photos, especially at the river, before the baptism. It was a good time to practice photography.

I wish I would say more, but I am really busy with preparing for my master exams. Enjoy a few photos from the trip to Radauti, on my blog:

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What To Do To Be Punished

How many of you want to be punished? What should you do to be punished? How many of you want to be forgotten and left alone? If I would do a poll asking if you want to be punished, I would get zero result for yes. Nobody normal wants to feel the wrath of God.

Here is the recipe to be punished by God. Follow the steps and you will get it

  1. sin against God, the One that set you free from trouble before
  2. follow the customs of the people that were banished
  3. do abstruse things that are no good, against the Lord
  4. raise things above all other, put squalor things in high places and bring praises to them, put the disgusting as normal things and the praise them
  5. build monuments in your hart and raise as moral standards those things that God is disgusted by
  6. give the praises that only God deserves, to those new man-made gods, bring your praises to them
  7. do bad things that upset Go, that now you see as good and necessary things
  8. serve you new made idol
  9. ignore God’s advertisement
  10. do not respect and accept God’s law anymore; state it as old and not practical anymore; break all the promises you did to God
  11. worthless things raise as high qualities
  12. abandon all God’s commandments
  13. teach your children and the next generation your new philosophy and present it as the highest rank way of thinking
  14. make sorcery and witchcraft part of your life, believe in it, present it as cool to your kids, celebrate it

When you see all those things happen around you do not ask yourself why you country sinks. When the people follow those steps do not question why life seems worthless. But you… you have a holly fear only of God. Please read 2 Kings, 17 chapter especially to see what happens to those that deliberating do not follow God, even if He continues to try to speak to them.

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What I’ve Been Told Today

  • be careful on what path you walk
  • love the Law and always meditate about it
  • God’s commandments can make you more wise
  • when you meditate at God’s advices you become wiser than those that teach you
  • when you fulfill God’s advices you become wiser than the old people
  • run away from any evil, running towards God’s teachings
  • do not depart from the Law, because He is the one that can really teach you
  • the sweetest words ever are the ones that come from God
  • fulfilling God’s advices your knowledge greatly improves
  • depart from the path of lies

Amen to all of that in my life

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Kindness, Hollyness, Full of Truth – My Praying for Today – 11th of June 2007

Dear God,

Thank you for discovering me what I should ask from you. I am most honored that you spoke me and showed me what I need, what I should desire. So, please God:

  • give me wisdom to learn your commandments
  • to hope in Your word
  • to accept when You afflict me, because You are right, righteous and faithful
  • my comfort always to be in You, in your kindness
  • my hard to be joyful only when I follow Your Law
  • help me to deeply look, analyze, live your commandment
  • my only friends to be those that fear You
  • my hart to be totally Yours
  • to follow your examples as a child, to accept it as it is, to take it and live it exactly as You ask me to
  • to live in love as Christ did
  • the bad things not to be in my life and to run from them
  • not to be deceived by those that use empty words
  • help me walk in the light as I am one of Your children
  • help me to be kind, holly and full of truth
  • show me the way I walk, help me carefully walk, running away from sin
  • make the very most of the time, buying up each opportunity,understanding God’s will for me

AMEN

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Transitions of Mankind

For a long time and even now people have been living with The Law. Not by The Law, but with it next to them, not knowing what is it. What The Law really means for their life. The Law is like a technical book that comes with us. When you buy a vacuum cleaner they give you a technical book. You have to read it and use your new vacuum cleaner obeying the specifications listed in the technical book. The same is with us. We have this technical book. If we want to function well, we have to do as it asks us to.

When Adam and Eve ate from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil they died in terms of innocence. They were no more innocent. They came to know what is good and what is wrong. And like this they became to know the bitterness of sin. God never intended us to feel bad about anything, so He made us pure. But, because He is a loving Father, God gave us the right to choose. He lifted us on a huge cliff, God gave us a magnificent power – the free will. Then the man saw left and right, saw what is good and what is bad with their full meaning. Before the man knew that he has the power to choose, that there is wrong and there is good, but he knew just what follows the good, and not the bitter taste of sin.

By the time of Noah, we see a transformation in the human kind. We have 2 states:
A. total innocence that knows nothing more than being good
B. total sinner that knows nothing more than being bad
In all this time until Noah we see a decaying of the human race. God decides to give the humans another chance, starting all over again with people that really loved Him. God gave common sense another chance to prove itself. He let the thing inside us, that came to birth by the time Adam and Eve ate the fruit, show that it has really the power to turn us to Him. When God saw once again that the humans turned back to sin with much speed, He decided to use another tactic. So, God choose a had of people and called them His. This was the Judaic people. But, also them didn’t bring a happy smile on God’s face all the time. Then God gave to His people the law, even if we all had by that time the common sense in us, our conscience.

It is like we buy the vacuum cleaner but in the first place they don’t give us the technical book, because they supposed that because we know how to use the vacuum cleaner we will use it in a good way. But we keep coming with the device back because it is broken. It gets repaired and so on. But one time we are given the technical book: “Here you are! It seems that even if you know how to use the vacuum cleaner, you forget sometimes. So here is the technical book. Read it over and over again. Your conscience is not enough it seems. Read it, apply it, read it again, write it on your hart, write it in your mind over and over again.

1-5 Dear friend, do what I tell you; treasure my careful instructions. Do what I say and you’ll live well. My teaching is as precious as your eyesight—guard it! Write it out on the back of your hands; etch it on the chambers of your heart. Talk to Wisdom as to a sister. Treat Insight as your companion. They’ll be with you to fend off the Temptress — that smooth-talking, honey-tongued Seductress. Proverbs 7:1-5

But, it seems, that this didn’t work either because the wickedness of man.

God gave us one more chance through His Son. God planned so Jesus would die for us. This implies that the man would change from inside out. It is a total different way of transforming. But before this God send someone to prepare the path of His Son. And here John appears in the scene. Take some time and read what John said to the people that came to him…

7-9 When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snake skins is going to deflect God’s judgment? It’s your life that must change, not your skin. And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as ‘father.’ Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.”
10 The crowd asked him, “Then what are we supposed to do?”
11 “If you have two coats, give one away,” he said. “Do the same with your food.”
12 Tax men also came to be baptized and said, “Teacher, what should we do?”
13 He told them, “No more extortion—collect only what is required by law.”
14 Soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He told them, “No shakedowns, no blackmail—and be content with your rations.”
Luke 3:7-14

From now on, God’s new plan for us starts. A whole new perspective appears in front of our eyes.

The transitions of mankind were tough and we sadden God. He has no other backup plan for us. God gave for us what He had most precious – His Son. Jesus Christ died for me and you, so that we would really get transformed from within.

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